The Russellville City Council voted to allow the city to participate in a recycling challenge program in an attempt to encourage residents to recycle and to also qualify the city for a $100,000 grant.

The 2012 50 State Challenge, sponsored by Waste Management, Recyclebank and S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., selects one community in each state to showcase its environmental friendliness.

“The whole intention of this is to improve recycling and educate our public about its benefits, and how they can further enhance their home opportunities by recycling,” Mayor Bill Eaton said.

Households with trash and recycling services with Waste Management will receive a flyer explaining the registration process, and will be allowed to register their recycling activity through the program’s website to earn “Recyclebank points.” The points may be redeemed for merchandise, gift cards or coupons, according to Human Resources Coordinator Tracey Cline-Pew. Households without Waste Management’s services can still get involved in the incentives through participating in quizzes and agreeing to be proactive on its website.

Cline-Pew said the number of points each household gets per month for reporting they recycle will depend on the total tonnage the city recycles, and the points will be divided amongst all participating households.

Residents will be able to participate in the program for two years starting this month, and a $100,000 grant will be given after the first year to the community which recycles the most.

“It’s just a real good way to get the community involved and aware,” Cline-Pew said.

Residents can sign up for the challenge at www.recyclebank.com/wm.

In other business, the council approved the appropriation of $19,000 from reserves of the street fund for work on a pond near Hilltop Drive and $999 for a change order after rock had to unexpectedly be removed from a site.

The council also voted to appropriate $34,750 from the general fund for insurance reimbursement for a fire truck repair that sustained damages from recent flooding in November.